3rd Annual Cowboy Christmas was "The Best So Far"

This year's 3rd annual Cowboy Christmas Event was held in "The Well" on the campus of Williston State College (WSC) on Saturday December 7th. The event was put on by the WSC Agriculture Department. Vendors were set up to sell goods from 3pm-9pm in the Well, where the general public could go shopping. Those vendors in attendance were Rodan + Field Skin Care, Sophia Ann, Rusty Nail Creations, Glass Fusion Art, TERRA Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils, Veema Nutrition, Courtney Jacob Designs, It Works, Sweet Pea Baby Designs, Damsel in Defense, Scentsy, Tupperware, Kristi's Homemade Candy, Mary Kay, Thirty One and The Traveling Vinards.

The evening festivities started at 6pm with a cash bar social by the Legion Club. R. Rooster BBQ catered a delicious prime rib dinner and then Kim Murphy, Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Program Coordinator at Williston State College announced the Agriculture Ambassadors, the livestock producers that had either donated in the past or will be donating this coming year and then she gave out the awards for the 2013 Carcass Challenge.

The 2013-2014 WSC Agriculture Ambassadors are Melissa Clark, Brady Berntson, Bailey Berntson and Whitney Anderson all of Medicine Lake, Lauren Hekkel of Culberson, Tillie Alvershire and Brittany Jevne of Watford City and Katie Sperling of Williston. The Agriculture Ambassadors visit different schools to tell students how important agriculture is to EVERYONE!

The Carcass Challenge involves taking calves donated by livestock producers to the Hovde Feedlot in Arnegard. The calves are then fed the same rations, are weighed and processed monthly and the data is studied. When the calves are ready to be processed they are brought to Prairie Packing and are sold as quarters, halves or wholes. The money made from this is used to fund the Ag Ambassadors program at the college.

The producers that donated calves to the Carcass Challenge Program last year were: Mark & Shelley Ellis of Williston, Hovde Ranch (Lynn & Patti & Nathan & Kristi) of Arnegard, Aaron &Shelbey Jacobson of Noonan, Gary and Lori Tande of Battleview, Bradley Rosenquist of McGregor, Curt & Nancy Severson of Cartwright, Jonathan and Liz Enget of Stanley, Helen Glasoe of Wildrose, Brandon and Susan Erickson of Powers Lake, Lee & Kim Murphy of Williston, and Emmet O'Neil of Columbus.

The producers who have donated so far to the 2014 Carcass Challenge are: Mark & Shelley Ellis, Aaron &Shelbey Jacobson, Curt & Nancy Severson, Bradley Rosenquist, Gerald Rosenquist, Larry & Val Axelson, Helen Glasoe, Brent & Lee Svangstu, Dennis Jacobson, Shane Clark and Dave & Kristi Clark.

The awards were given to the producer that donated the calf with the highest average daily gain (Curt & Nancy Severson of Cartwright) and the calf with the carcass traits that would sell the highest if selling on the grid (Jon & Li Enget of Stanley).

Trent Loos, a 6th generation agriculturalist from Nebraska, spoke after all announcements and awards were distributed. Trent is a well-known agricultural advocate who travels worldwide talking to people and organizations about agriculture. He works hard to make sure the true facts are spread and works at eliminating the myths. After Loos spoke, the silent auction was wrapped up and the NFR played on the big screen for all to watch.

"This was the third year we've had the Cowboy Christmas and it was the best so far. We hope each year will continue to grow and be better than the previous one," stated Kim Murphy."We'd like to give a big thank you to the sponsors of the Carcass Challenge and Cowboy Christmas event; Northern Satellite, Northern Pulse Growers Association, ND Farm & Ranch Management Educators and Williston API."